Two studies were presented showing that increasing energy efficiency is cost-effective with binding targets, contradicting the European Commission’s impact assessment for the 2030 climate and energy policy framework.

These new findings come at an important time, ahead of the European Council 23-24 October, when EU leaders are expected to decide on the EU 2030 climate and energy framework. Although many member states are signalling their support for a binding energy efficiency target of 30%, others, led by the UK and The Netherlands, are stating that the costs are too high, but this is based on flawed and censored information that increasing energy efficiency would increase costs exponentially.

A study by E3Mlab, which also provides the European Commission’s central energy modelling, shows that on the contrary a trio of binding targets, 30% energy efficiency, 30% renewable energy share and 40% GHG emission reductions, is in fact no more expensive than a GHG target alone, and delivers much higher energy security, economic and environmental benefits.

The other study, led by the Fraunhofer ISI, shows that energy efficiency substantially brings down system costs, and thus facilitates higher renewable energy shares.

“These studies show clearly that energy saving not only contributes to environment protection, but at the same time benefits society and brings economic development,” said Veronika Kiss, Senior Policy Officer of CEEweb for Biodiversity. “EU leaders should not hesitate to grab this opportunity and bring sustainability closer to reality within the EU”. Therefore, CEEweb fully supports the call of the Coalition for Energy Savings for a binding 40% energy efficiency target for 2030.

More information:

· Study by E3Mlab:

Development and evaluation of long-term scenarios for a balanced European climate and energy policy until 2030
http://www.e3mlab.eu/e3mlab/papers/141013_E3Mlab_Summary%...

· Study by Fraunhofer ISI:

Estimating energy system costs of sectoral RES and EE targets in the context of energy and climate targets for 2030
http://www.isi.fraunhofer.de/isi-en/x/projekte/targets-20...

· Coalition for Energy Savings briefing paper: Inflating the costs of energy efficiency

http://energycoalition.eu/sites/default/files/20140903%20...


Contact
Veronika Kiss
+36-1-398-01-35